A/N: Surprise! Ahh now I bet you guys thought I had given up on poor old Adam eh? Well to all you nay sayers out there I am glad to say you are wrong. I was able to type this up at my grandmas (thanks mammy ;3; ) and although the next update may be far off, I would like to add that I finally discovered the issue with my laptop so inshallah (if God is willing) I will be able to have regular updates soon. Also, thank you so much for 48 followers and 30 favorites. Considering the fact I have not put out a lot of content on this story, the support really makes me want to put these out ASAP. Well that's all for now, enjoy!
Chapter 4: A Family of Roses
Adam continued to stare at the bunny eared girl in contempt, though she could not see it.
How could I have been so stupid? he angrily thought to himself. She was right there! I can't believe I blew it like that!
She had already stood up and was wiping leaves and and grass off of her clothing.
"So I guess this means we're partners huh? My name is Velvet," she extended "and what is yours?".
Her hand hung in the air for quite some time. Her smile faded and she dropped it to her side. Adam tsked and began angrily walking in front of him through the thicket of the forest. Velvet yelped and trailed behind him.
He resented her. Though the more rational part of him knew it was in no way her fault, he did not want to listen to it. At the end of the day, this half-rate bunny fresh out of school was to be his partner and not his oldest friend.
"So uh, what school did you train at? I never saw you at signal and I-" she began.
Adam stopped in his tracks. "Look," he said, "not to sound like an ass but we are not friends you hear me? As far as I'm concerned we're complete strangers so stop acting like we are buddies."
The moment the words escaped his lips he regretted it. He was about to apologize when Velvet spoke up.
"Look," she said, "I understand that you were hoping you'd be partnered with your girlfriend. I understand that you probably don't know anyone else since you guys haven't left each others side since arriving. But taking it out on me wont change a damn thing. Now if you would stop being irritable for one second, maybe we could find the relics in time to at least get her on our team."
Adam stood there in shock. He had initially perceived her to be quite and timid, but she turned out to be very strong-willed. He closed his jaw.
"Shes not my girlfriend" he muttered. Velvet smiled and walked ahead of Adam, trudging through smugly. Adam shook his head and followed her.
She does have a point he thought. Hope isn't lost, we could still end up together!
"So, what's your name?" she asked once more.
"Adam," he responded, "Adam Taurus. And you're Velvet Scarlatina correct?"
"I don't remember giving my last name" she said, pushing branches away from her.
"You didn't have to." Adam said no more and Velvet did not push it. They entered a clearing and were met with dozens of glowing red eyes in the brush. They stood still and Adam's hand immediately went to Wilt and Blush. An Ursa leaped from the bush and advanced towards them. Adam sped to it with blinding speed. He ran straight past it, slicing its head, and re-sheathing the blade so quick, the beasts body ran a for a few seconds before collapsing to the floor.
A few more leapt out at him, and this time it was Velvet who chased towards the Grimm. From her hips she unsheathed two wicked orange blades with green hilts, and leaped in the air with a fierce battle cry. Landing on the middle Ursa, she drove her blades into its neck and, wasting no time, pulled them out and aimed them at them at the ones to her right and left. A blast of red fired from each of the tips, exploding upon contact with the unfortunate creatures.
Once again Adam was in shock. Damn shes a Bad ass he thought. But I am not about to be shown up by a petite little newbie!
"Nice trick there battle bunny. But watch this." He dashed into the wave of approaching Beowulfs and shot Wilt from its sheath. The sword collided with the skull of a Beowulf and hung in the air. Using Blush, he masterfully emptied lead into the remaining Grimm. He grabbed Wilt as it fell from the air and stuck it into the neck of the Grimm it knocked out. He sheathed the blade and grinned at his gawking partner: he killed five fully grown Grimm in a matter of three seconds.
Velvet approached him with an impressed smirk. "Where was it you said you trained again?"
"I didn't" he replied with a similar smile. "But I gotta hand it to ya, you surprised me with your fighting style. I didn't take you to be a...um..."
"Berserker? No one usually does. But that's how I like to fight, up close and personal. These are my blades by the way, Jazar Mawt." she said, indicating to her carrot like weapons. "And what do you call yours?"
"Wilt and Blush." he responded. Adam stood there for some time before finally deciding to speak up.
"Listen, about earlier I-"
"All is forgiven. Now lets hurry up and find those relics okay?" she said.
Adam closed his mouth mid-speech and nodded. He was beginning to like his new partner. Sure she was nothing like Blake but he was starting to think that maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzwing, Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. You will now work together as Team CRDL, lead by...Cardin Winchester!"
The crowd cheered and Adam stood in nervousness. He and Velvet had been the first to retrieve their relics and make it back to the rendezvous point. Since then he had been sweating nervously over whether or not Blake would be on his team. They had met up after getting back and she told him of the battle that ensued after his departure. Before she could get into detail, however, they were separated by teachers and lead into the auditorium.
"...lead by, Jaune Arc!" The crowed cheered once more as Ozpin declared another team. There were only eight students left, Blake among them. He made a silent prayer that they would end up together, his hands shaking in anticipation. Velvet grabbed his hand from next to him and squeezed it reassuringly. Before he could react to this, Ozpin began naming another team.
"Adam Taurus," he began. The bull faunus swallowed. This was the moment of truth.
"Velvet Scarlatina...," he continued. Adam closed his eyes from beneath his mask. Please be Blake he silently pleaded. Please...
"Neptune Versailles, Sun Wukong. You four picked up the red knight pieces. From henceforth you will work together as Team AVNS (Avens). You will be lead by...Adam Taurus!"
Adam turned his head to Blake in horror. She gave him a sad smile and nodded. It'll be okay she seemed to say. He turned to face his new team. Velvet looked to him with concern while Sun and Neptune grinned and gave him both thumbs up. He turned back to Blake and nodded once to her. She sighed with relief and turned away.
Though Adam was happy with his team (hell at least they were mostly faunus), he could not show Blake his true feelings for fear of worrying her. Though he knew he would learn to love them, the only thought on his mind was that none of them was Blake.
A/N: Now I would like to address a tragedy that many of us already know about. Almost two week ago, our beloved Monty Oum passed from this world after ten days of being in a coma. I would like to thank him for all he has done for me despite him never knowing my name. It was his work and resolve that inspired me to try my hand at writing. After reading a fuck ton of it, I had finally written my own fanfiction story in July (The Son of Sorrow). It was because of him that my beloved Reemus Ookami was born, as well as Ravus and Kara and Romulus. He taught me the joy doing something creative and wonderful, and how with some effort and patience, you can make something amazing. I pray to Allah (by the way, hes the same God in Christianity, Allah is just the Arabic word for it) that you attain Paradise, and that you rest in peace. Thanks for everything you have done for me and the rest of our extraordinary fandom Monty. We will never forget you :(
